Now in its second year, the Dulux Study Tour Alumni group recently met in Sydney.
The Dulux Study Tour Alumni is made up of all past winners. Each year the group gets bigger and they get to meet the new winners.
The day began with a tour of the, 5 – 9 Roslyn Street, Kings Cross by Durbach Block Architects. The building recently won the Australian Institute of Architects 2010 Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture
Fortunately for us, Durbach Block’s offices are located on the third floor of 5-9 Roslyn Street, along with Neeson Murcutt Architects
Both Durbach & Block and Neeson Murcutt gave us a tour of their studio space and an insight into their practices and the work their respective offices work.
Both practices have shared a common studio space for a number of years, so when the opportunity came up to relocate to Roslyn Street together, again moved into a shared space again.
The use of model making by both practices to develop their concepts was evident in their abundant display of models
It was great to see an early model of 5 – 9 Roslyn St, whilst in the actually in the building.
The highlight for me was the rooftop garden space, yet to be fully completed. It would be a great space for Friday drinks!
After the practice visits, we went down to level two where the group were treated to a presentation by three past Dulux Study Tour winners.
Tom Ferguson, Pete Walker and Lee Collard presented a brief synopsis of work they had been doing over the last twelve months.
The group then reconvened for a meal at Mezzaluna Ristorante Italiano in Potts Point.
Here we were joined by Sigrid Thornton and David Parken, Institute CEO
Sigrid had recently MC’d the National Architecture Awards Presentation Dinner, and was invited along by Phil White, General Manager – Dulux Trade Division to interview David in an informal manner. David shared many personal experiences from his journey including practising architecture in London, through to building his own mud brick house in Adelaide.
All in all it was
a successful event and we are all looking forward to next Alumni event, to welcome five new members!
